A Frosty Twist Fuels Fresh Fishing Opportunities
Shad Clinic this Saturday morning at Blue Lagoon (08:30)…Don’t miss out on all the latest Shad tips and techniques as well bonus prizes for the biggest Shad fishing event of 2026! Join the Foton and KingFisher Shad Fishing Competition from 14 to 31 August for your chance to compete for an incredible R85,000 prize pool, including R60,000 for first place, R15,000 for second place, and R10,000 for third place. Entry is just R250, and entries are open now, so don’t miss your opportunity to fish, compete, and win big. Visit kingfisher.co.za, fotonsa.co.za, or any of our eight KingFisher branches to get your tickets today. The 2026 Foton and KingFisher Shad Fishing Competition is where the next big catch could be worth R60,000!
Rock & Surf:
North Coast
The North Coast has been the standout performer over the past week, producing some exceptional fishing. Anglers have enjoyed consistent success with kob, garrick, shad, and a variety of other predatory species showing up along the beaches. The action has been rewarding for those putting in the time, although conditions remain unpredictable. Being prepared to move quickly and capitalize on sudden feeding frenzies can make all the difference when fishing this stretch of coastline.
Central Coast
The Central Coast has continued its impressive run, with productive fishing reported from Glen Ashley through to uShaka. Shad have been abundant, keeping rods bent throughout the day, while grey sharks have provided anglers with exciting battles. Recent heavy side wash made surf fishing challenging in some areas, prompting many anglers to head into the harbour instead. The decision paid off, with grunter being landed in good numbers, ranging from smaller juveniles to quality, trophy-worthy specimens.
South Coast
The South Coast remains a reliable option, offering plenty of opportunities for anglers targeting a range of species. Garrick continue to feature prominently in catches, while shad are providing fast-paced action along many beaches. Shark activity has also remained steady, adding an extra thrill for those equipped to handle larger fish. With the Sardine Run still influencing the region, a wide variety of species continues to move through the area, making every outing full of potential.
Overall Outlook
As the Sardine Run continues to shape fishing conditions along the coastline, adaptability remains one of the biggest keys to success. Keeping an eye on the latest local reports and being willing to change locations can dramatically improve your chances. A beach that appears lifeless one moment can suddenly come alive when shoals of baitfish arrive, closely followed by hungry predators. Staying mobile and ready to react is often the secret to turning an average day into an unforgettable session.
Offshore:
The North Coast once again stole the spotlight this week, delivering phenomenal action with outstanding catches of garrick and kob. Live bait has remained the undisputed champion, with fresh, lively baitfish proving irresistible to these hard-hitting predators. Anglers who ventured further north were rewarded with even more explosive fishing, confirming that the extra miles on the road can translate into unforgettable moments on the water.
The Central Coast has continued to fire, keeping anglers on their toes with consistent catches of garrick and snoek. Fast-trolled lures have been producing plenty of action, while those opting for a more patient approach by drifting live baits over bait schools have been rewarded with some exceptional fish. It’s a reminder that sometimes slowing things down can produce the biggest rewards. Bottom fishing has also remained productive, with kob and geelbek featuring regularly. Snoek catches have been nothing short of spectacular, with some truly photo-worthy specimens coming over the side. There’s also encouraging news for tuna enthusiasts—those prepared to make the long run offshore are finding worthwhile opportunities.
Further south, the deeper reefs and Aliwal Shoal have continued to produce quality fishing across the board. Garrick have undoubtedly earned the title of catch of the week, while offshore anglers have enjoyed exciting encounters with tuna, kingfish, and massive rockcod. Fast-diving trolling lures have accounted for much of the action, consistently attracting strikes while also tempting an impressive variety of gamefish species. Their effectiveness this season has once again highlighted why they remain an essential part of any serious offshore angler’s arsenal.
Freshwater:
News from Jan: As the saying goes : ‘Be careful what you wish for…’ … and with a jolt, along with a spit and a spot of rain and a promise (or rather forecast…) of some good snow up on top of The ‘Berg, winter sneaks in a little backhander. If nothing else, the wee bit of precipitation will help settle the dust … already The Midlands is smelling of petrichor, that earthy smell that fills the air when rain falls on dry ground. If the forecast comes to pass <fingers crossed>, there will be some good snow up top, and even down to the low lying areas, which will feed the winter-dry catchments and streams. The barometer made a swan dive of note as the front arrived, but will pick as the front passes over and hopefully find favour with the fish and get them back on the feed…
The balmy weather of late had the ‘scaly okes’ out and about in search of their yellow quarry. With the rivers on the cool side, and levels low and not much flow, so standard nymphing opportunities are limited when compared to the usual Spring / Summer fishing after the rains. Some good fish came to net however – isn’t that the aim? – with sizes varying from fingerlings to a couple of fish over the 50cm / 20 inch mark.
The Natal Fly Fishers Club is pleased to announce that their website is back up and running, and normal service can now resume! The interim solution with an online form for submitting returns reveals that there have been some anglers taking advantage of the weather, along with some obliging fish. One return noted a water temperature of 10deg.C, and “Good water visibility, numerous rises seen and fish caught!” … in the 11-13 inch / 28-33cm bracket, and up into the 13-15 inch / 33-38cm class. Orange beadhead woolly buggers in black and olive, and rusty brown damselfly nymphs doing the business.
KZN remains an active containment zone for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and biosecurity protocol remains a CRITICAL component for the control of the disease. All anglers (and visitors) traversing The Greater Midlands are advised to take heed of biosecurity measures, and to heed all biosecurity notices / signage around The Midlands, and to please comply with any movement regulations, and assist where possible with hygiene and risk-reduction measures to safeguard local livestock.
The 24hr biosecurity spray stations on the Kamberg Road at the Connington Road junction, and at the beginning of the amaHlubi Tribal area on the way up to Giant’s Castle are required stops for all travelers going up and down the valley.
On the international fly fishing front – the 23rd World Youth Fly Fishing Championships (U19 and U24) that took place earlier this month in Ireland saw the S.A. taking 4th place overall. The Protea Senior Ladies, and Men’s Masters, teams are both currently in Norway for the 5th World Ladies and 11th World Masters Fly Fishing Championships … with a week of practice under the belt, fishing has commenced this week.
Water quality issues remain at the forefront of discussions w.r.t. fishing at Albert Falls Dam, along with a “Save Albert Falls” campaign. We look forward to an in-depth review of the state of the waters feeding the dam, and a speedy resolution / remediation. On the upside, there have been reports of carp on the surface.
Water temperatures seem to be back on the rise, with local waters sitting around 15-16deg.C, and fish being reported from Midmar, while Greytown waters are reported still on the cold side at 14deg.C and below. With a water temperature of 20deg.C and above, Inanda is reported to be “on fire”.
For the best in tackle and advice, pop into any of the eight Kingfisher stores, they are open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The KZN Angler News audio fishing report is South Africa’s first fishing podcast series that focuses on the latest fishing reports of the East Coast. This report is free and available on all major Podcast platforms including Apple Pods, Google Pods, Spotify and Deezer as well as SA’s most popular Facebook Pages.
Angler News SA – https://www.ecr.co.za/podcasts/ansa/
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Please send any info about fishing or fish caught in your area to Vinesh Soogreem – vineshs@kingfisher.co.za
